GLAAD - Michael Stipehttp://www.glaad.org/tags/michael-stipe
enLogo's "Trailblazers" to honor Ugandan advocate John Abdallah Wambere and feature a performance by Sia with the Gay Men's Chorushttp://www.glaad.org/blog/logos-trailblazers-honor-ugandan-advocate-john-abdallah-wambere-and-feature-performance-sia-gay
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-0-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/images/2014-06/Trailblazers.png?itok=R_uQ_VRG" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" class="media-element file-media-original" data-file_info="%7B%22fid%22:%2272247%22,%22view_mode%22:%22media_original%22,%22fields%22:%7B%22field_file_image_alt_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22,%22field_file_image_title_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22%7D,%22type%22:%22media%22%7D" height="1800" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/1200px/public/images/2014-06/Sia.jpg?itok=a8mGIsyD" style="width: 221px; height: 332px; float: right;" width="1200" />Logo TV has announced another round of exciting stars and LGBT leaders who will be a part of <a href="http://www.logotv.com/trailblazers/"><em>Trailblazers</em></a><em>,</em> which premieres June 26. Pop singer Sia will perform her new hit song "Chandelier" with the New York City Gay Men's Chorus during their inaugural award show which will also honor Ugandan advocate John Abdallah Wambere. <em>T<em>railblazers</em> </em>celebrates and honors individuals who have had a profound impact on the community and who are making great strides towards equality for LGBT people. The one hour special will air June 26 at 9:00pm ET/PT from New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The show coincides with the week of the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and the one-year anniversary of section 3 DOMA being ruled unconstitutional.</p>
<blockquote><p>"I'm so happy to be taking part in the inaugural Logo/Trailblazers Awards. I feel privileged to salute every person fighting for LGBT rights,” said Sia. “Backed by the incomparable New York City Gay Men's Chorus with the spectacular backdrop of The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, I'm excited to show you our inside animals!"</p>
</blockquote>
<p><img alt="" class="media-element file-media-original" data-file_info="%7B%22fid%22:%2269983%22,%22view_mode%22:%22media_original%22,%22fields%22:%7B%22field_file_image_alt_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22,%22field_file_image_title_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22%7D,%22type%22:%22media%22%7D" height="1806" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/1200px/public/images/2014-04/8_Lupita_Nyongo_CMK_backstage.jpg?itok=CrWJkFdh" style="width: 300px; height: 449px; float: right;" width="1200" />John “Longjones” Abdallah Wambere, Ugandan LGBT rights activist advocate, is being honored at the event by former R.E.M frontman Michael Stipe as an "International Trailblazer" for his work with Spectrum Uganda Initiatives, an organization that advocates LGBT rights. Earlier this year he <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-lupita-nyongo-presents-call-me-kuchu-outstanding-documentary-award-glaadawards">accepted the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary from Lupita Nyong'o</a>. He also <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/activist-who-was-subject-call-me-kuchu-applying-asylum-us">announced that he was applying for asylum in the United States</a>.</p>
<blockquote><p>"We all have a task more than ever to stand up in solidarity with LGBT persons around the globe who face Imprisonment, death or even forced to flee their homes for simply who they are and who they choose to love, to end hate and institutionalized homophobia around the Globe," said John "Longjones" Abdallah Wambere.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Previously announced honorees include Edie Windsor and Roberta Kaplan for their historic achievement in the defeat of section 3 of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Brooklyn Nets’ Jason Collins, the first publicly gay athlete in an American major leagues sport and the series <em>Orange Is the New Black.</em> The event will also focus on “Trailblazing Youth,” highlighting four young leaders tied to <a href="http://www.thetrevorproject.org/">The Trevor Project</a> who embody the power of activism and who are making an impact in their community.</p>
<p>Demi Lovato, Macklemore &amp; Ryan Lewis and Pete Wentz join previously announced presenters and performers Daniel Radcliffe, Jared Leto, Ariana Grande, Rita Ora, Tegan and Sara, Kylie Minogue, Laura Jane Grace and A Great Big World. You can read more about the event on Logo's <a href="http://www.logotv.com/trailblazers/"><em>Trailblazers</em></a> website and at <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/logo-tv-honor-jason-collins-and-orange-new-black-first-ever-trailblazers-award-show">GLAAD</a>.</p>
<p>Check out Logo's below profile of "Young Trailblazer" and transgender advocate Jazz, who last year served as a <a href="http://www.glaad.org/spiritday/ambassadors">GLAAD Spirit Day ambassador</a>:</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:uma:video:logotv.com:1052843/cp~vid%3D1052843%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Alogotv.com%3A1052843" width="512"></iframe></p>
<div style="margin:0px;padding:4px;width:500px;text-align:center;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><a href="http://www.logotv.com/shows/trailblazers/series.jhtml" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">Logo Trailblazers 2014</a> - <a href="http://www.logotv.com/" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">Logo TV</a></div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">June 16, 2014</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/entertainment">Entertainment</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/music">Music</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/television">Television</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/sia">Sia</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/john-abdallah-wambere">John Abdallah Wambere</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/nyc-gay-mans-chorus">NYC Gay Man&#039;s Chorus</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/logo-tv">Logo TV</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/trailblazers">Trailblazers</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/michael-stipe">Michael Stipe</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/edie-windsor">Edie Windsor</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/roberta-kaplan">Roberta Kaplan</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/jason-collins">Jason Collins</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/orange-new-black">Orange is the New Black</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/demi-lovato">Demi Lovato</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/pete-wentz">Pete Wentz</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/macklemore-and-ryan-lewis">Macklemore and Ryan Lewis</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/trevor-project">The Trevor Project</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Mon, 16 Jun 2014 23:55:49 +0000orosales71347 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/logos-trailblazers-honor-ugandan-advocate-john-abdallah-wambere-and-feature-performance-sia-gay#commentsBisexuality Exists, and Mika is Proofhttp://www.glaad.org/2009/09/23/bisexuality-exists-and-mika-is-proof
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Yesterday, on the eve of <strong>Celebrate Bisexuality Day</strong>, it was reported that U.K. pop star <strong>Mika</strong> acknowledged his bisexuality, ending speculation that began when he first burst onto the music scene with his 2007 album, <em>Life in Cartoon Motion</em>.</p>
<!--more--><p>
In an interview with Dutch magazine <strong><a href="http://www.gay-night.nl/">Gay &amp; Night</a></strong>, Mika said:</p>
<blockquote><p>"I've never ever labeled myself. But having said that; I've never limited my life, I've never limited who I sleep with. So, whatever...call me whatever you want. Call me bisexual, if you need a term for me."</p></blockquote>
<div style="width: 268px;float:left;"><a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/mika-431x500.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-13678" title="mika-431x500" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/mika-431x500-258x300.jpg" alt="Mika" width="258" height="300" /></a>
<p>Mika</p>
</div>
<p>As news spread throughout the blogosphere yesterday, reaction from many commenters mirrored many of the gay community's longstanding misconceptions regarding bisexuality. <strong><a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2009/09/mika-labels-himself-call-me-bisexual.html">Towleroad</a></strong> reader Crispy put it best when he commented: "<span>Isn't bisexuality just the last exit to gaytown?" Even rapper <strong>Kanye West</strong> chimed in on the topic of bisexuality this week in an interview with <a href="http://www.hardknock.tv/">hardknock.tv</a> in which he stated: </span>"There's no such thing as a bisexual guy. If a guy is bisexual that makes him gay. Don't try and re-term it."</p>
<p>West went on to deliver an outstanding message in support of the gay community despite his lack of knowledge on bisexuality. GLAAD would like to point out that bisexuality does in fact exist and we are proud to have bisexuals as part of the LGBT community. <strong>AfterElton</strong> today published a list of their <a href="http://www.afterelton.com/blog/afterelton/celebrate-bisexuality-day">"Eight Favorite Bisexuals Ever"</a> and we would like to commend Mika for joining the likes of <strong>Michael Stipe</strong> and <strong>Alan Cumming</strong>, as well as <strong>Margaret Cho</strong> and <strong>Lady Gaga</strong>, as prominent out bisexual celebrities.</p>
<p>Mika went on in the interview to say:</p>
<blockquote><p>"Let's say if you're a 16-year-old guy, and you're not sure about your sexuality, you should be as free as you want...Having a role model who makes you feel like it's alright to do whatever you want, without the pressure of a label, I think that's a good thing as well. I think there's a million different ways to do it, there isn't only one. And I hope I'm right."</p></blockquote>
<p>The decision to come out as gay, lesbian or, yes, bisexual is a personal one. Though Mika clearly still prefers not to label himself (as is his right), we are glad that Mika has recognized the importance of being an out role model for questioning youth.</p>
<p>Mika's latest album, <em>The Boy Who Knew Too Much</em>, came out yesterday. Learn more at his <a href="http://www.mikasounds.com/">official website</a>.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">September 23, 2009</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/entertainment">Entertainment</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/afterelton">AfterElton</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/alan-cumming">Alan Cumming</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/celebrate-bisexuality-day">Celebrate Bisexuality Day</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/kanye-west">Kanye West</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/lady-gaga">Lady GaGa</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/margaret-cho">Margaret Cho</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/michael-stipe">Michael Stipe</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/mika">Mika</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/towleroad">Towleroad</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:16:53 +0000glaad32329 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/2009/09/23/bisexuality-exists-and-mika-is-proof#comments